Wednesday, October 10, 2012

31 Days of Halloween - Day 10 - Movie 1

Connecting werewolves to the physical and hormonal changes brought on by puberty is nothing new, but Ginger Snaps (2000) goes more specific, binding it to menstruation and troubled social issues and the search for a personal identity that adolescent girls go through.

Brigitte (Emily Perkins) and Ginger (Katharine Isabelle) are two tightly bonded sisters a year apart in age, obsessed with death, dismissive of everyone who isn't them, suffering the trials of high school. One night Ginger is attacked by a werewolf, and unlike other movies, her change is gradual and seemingly permanent, both physically and emotionally. The more monstrous she becomes, the more radiant and confident in her own skin she becomes, and the more she grows apart from the devoted sister she starts to leave behind.

This movie feels as fresh now as it did when I first saw it around eight years ago. The characters feel true and the actors all deliver convincing and sympathetic performances. Some of the make-up effects are a little too apparent as make-up effects, such as Ginger's final look before she becomes completely wolf-like, and the wolf version itself, but since the story itself is so compelling, I found myself willing to forgive.

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About Me

John Rozum is best known for writing supernatural themed comics aimed at adults such as XOMBI, MIDNIGHT, MASS., THE X-FILES, and THE HANGMAN featured in THE WEB, or for writing supernatural themed comics for children such as SCOOBY-DOO or THE SECRET SATURDAYS in CARTOON NETWORK ACTION PACK.
He's written many other comics as well as magazine articles, television episodes and even trading cards. He also does occasional illustration work, and accepts commissions.